For skiers and snowboarders, winter is the optimal time to get outside and enjoy the slopes. This is a great way to spend the cold months; it keeps your body active and enjoying nature. Monarch Resort is a great place for anyone looking to get exercise and improve their athletic prowess this winter.

SKI TRAILS

Naturally, Monarch Resort’s trails are one of its biggest attractions. The resort offers everything from beginner trails to challenging, ungroomed ones perfect for tree and bowl skiing. Monarch Resort gets about 350 inches of snow annually, so our trails are never slushy or disrupted with melting patches. Additionally, the Colorado snow is much drier than you’ll find in areas further south. You can ski for longer periods without worrying about feeling too waterlogged.

For those who prefer to ski without traditional skis, Monarch Resort also offers cat skiing. This popular version of the sport uses hill grooming machines to take guests along some of the resort’s more advanced trails. Depending on the machine’s size, cat skiing can accommodate as many as 12 guests plus guides and drivers. You’ll be taken through a safety talk first and will be required to wear proper equipment.

SPAS AND HOT SPRINGS

Skiing and other winter sports are fun, but naturally cold. When you need to warm up, check out Mount Princeton Hot Springs, just 20 miles from Monarch on US 285. Most people use the hot springs to relax, choosing cascading Japanese style pools or the natural springs in Chalk Creek. An exercise pool is available for those who love to swim. You can also try Salida Hot Springs, where you will be treated to your own private soaking pool.

HIKE THE PIKE AND SAN ISABEL NATIONAL FORESTS

Perhaps more than any state, Colorado is known for its gorgeous scenery, especially in and around its national forests. Your family can enjoy hiking and walking trails in the Pike and San Isabel National Forests, as well as the Cimarron and Comanche National Forests. These five forests cover over three million acres combined and supply over 60% of the water used by metropolitan Denver.

These forests boast nine unique Wilderness Areas, including Picket Wire Canyon and Lost Creek Wilderness. They are also home to the Carrizo Auto Tour Interpretive Site, which offers a self-guided tour through 180 miles of points of interest. These include the Santa Fe Trail’s Aubry cutoff and Carrizo and Picture Canyons.

ADDITIONAL SOURCES:

http://www.fs.usda.gov/psicc
http://www.fs.usda.gov/attmain/psicc/specialplaces

TO FIND OUT ALL THAT MONARCH SKI RESORT HAS TO OFFER CLICK HERE.

If you enjoy ski resorts but are ready to move beyond the small and intimate or mid-size options, Winter Park may be the perfect location for you. It’s the largest ski resort in White Diamond’s group, with over 3,000 acres of award-winning terrain. This space makes it perfect for skiers of all levels, but skiing is just one of the versatile delights Winter Park has to offer.

UNMATCHED SKIING OPPORTUNITIES

Since 1940, the Winter Park Ski Resort has served skiers from all walks of life. It offers everything from beginner trails to black diamond slopes. The Eagle Wind trail is known for its world class glade skiing, and its Persenn Bowl is perfect for bowl skiing. If you like your skiing with plenty of jumps and steps, check out Vasquez Ridge, Mary Jane, and the Cirque. They’re all conveniently located at the same resort, so you can start your skiing, snowboarding, and other adventures first thing in the morning – no drives or hikes required.

OTHER ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES

Sports other than skiing are available at Winter Park, too. Free guided mountain tours will give you a taste of the Colorado Mountains’ breathtaking winter scenery and help you decide which trails or areas you want to try. Winter Park also offers snowcat rides and snow bike rentals, as well as lessons on how to use these machines. Its instructors are highly qualified and will ensure you have a safe, fun, and unforgettable lesson.

If you’d like to do something more casual, the Village Ice Rink is open from 10 AM to 10 PM every day. Free lessons are offered daily beginning at 4 PM. Disco skate nights are held every week. In addition, the rink hosts lively Broomball games every Tuesday evening.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Winter Park’s ski train might make a return this winter, according to local news. You can take the train all the way to the ski trails, starting with the new light rail connection to Union Station. Additionally, a three-hour tour of all Winter Park’s slopes is available for those who want to take in the views before trying winter sports.

Winter Park offers plenty of options for guests interested in warming up at restaurants or bars. Check out the Five Mountain Tavern or Derailer Bar for classic American bar food, or get the feel of an authentic Irish pub at Randi’s Grill and Pub. If your stomach is craving something more carb-heavy, both Volario’s and Hernando’s Pizza and Pasta are glad to oblige.

ADDITIONAL SOURCES:

http://www.powderaddiction.com/
http://www.winterparkresort.com/events-and-activities/dining/restaurants/derailer.aspx

FOR THE BEST DEALS ON WINTER PARK SKI RESORT LODGING, LIFT TICKETS AND EXTRAS CLICK HERE.

Crested Butte Ski Resort is probably White Diamond’s most unique location. It’s known for its gnarly, tough side, but one journalist described it as “mellow and kind,” too. Crested Butte combines the most challenging ski terrain in North America with a dedication to teaching kids to love winter sports and helping families enjoy themselves.

THE JEWEL IN THE COLORADO SKI TOWN CROWN

Crested Butte ski resort has been called the jewel of Colorado ski towns, or the jewel in the Colorado ski town crown, and it lives up to its name. It lacks traffic lights, chain stores, and all the other distractions families try to escape on ski resort getaways. Instead, Crested Butte’s dominating feature is its National Historic District, a collection of genuine mining-era buildings that harken back to a simpler time. Additionally, the removal of chain stores, traffic, and city lights allows guests to focus more on scenery, fresh air, and family bonding.

Crested Butte ski resort is home to several trails for skiers of all levels from beginners to advanced athletes ready for double- or triple-black diamond challenges. It offers ski lessons for children as well as adults. When you’re ready to branch out from skiing, try snowbike lessons or our Snowcat Driving Experience. This unique activity uses Crested Butte’s hill grooming machines to take guests on rides, so you can learn to groom ski hills and trails to perfection just like its staff.

OTHER WINTER ACTIVITIES IN CRESTED BUTTE

Crested Butte ski resort is the only White Diamond resort that also boasts an adventure park. There, the whole family can enjoy zip lines, snow tubing, climbing walls, and bungee trampolines. It also offers 45 kilometers worth of advanced trails for cross-country skiing. For guests who want more kinds of activities, Crested Butte ski resort offers winter horseback trail rides and guided snowshoe tours. The snowshoe tours cover some of the hidden areas of the mountains, giving you a one-of-a-kind snowshoeing experience.

DINING HIGHLIGHTS

Despite its lack of traffic and chain stores, Crested Butte is home to three sushi bars, six pizza parlors, and over 30 bars, to name only a few dining options. Two of its most popular bars are Talk of the Town and the Eldo, where you can meet some locals, play a song on an old-fashioned jukebox, and indulge in handcrafted beer and other drinks.

Crested Butte’s dining options are also uniquely diverse. In downtown Crested Butte alone, you can find sushi and tapas at Lobar, authentic Mexican at Donitas, and pizza served in a Bohemian-style atmosphere at The Secret Stash.

ADDITIONAL SOURCES:

http://www.colorado.com/articles/see-free-colorado-historic-districts
http://www.crestedbutte-co.gov/

CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON CRESTED BUTTE SKI RESORT LIFT TICKETS, LODGING & OFFERS.